Kato Kanefusa, real name Kato Koichi, also known as 23^rd generation Kanefusa as well as Fujiwara Kanefusa. He was trained by Kato Yosinosuke Jumyo.  Kanefusa was rated as a 1 million yen smith. He made medium to high grade Showato and medium to high grade Gendaito as in this example. He won 1^st seat at the 1941 exhibition. Kanefusa is listed in the Toko Taikan (TK-126), Hawleys (KAN-799, 747, 801), Nihonto Meikan (NMK-179), and Sesko’s, Sword Smiths of Japan pg 200 (see below).  His work can be seen in Slough’s, Modern Japanese Sword Smiths pg 39

KANEFUSA (兼房), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Fujiwara Kanefusa saku”
(藤原兼房作), “Fujiwara Kanefusa” (藤原兼房), “Nōshū Seki-jū nijūsan-dai Fujiwara
Kanefusa” (濃州関住二十三代藤原兼房), real name Katō Kōichi (加藤鉀一), born
February 9th 1899, student of Zennosuke Jumyō (善之助寿命), he counted himself as 23rd
generation Kanefusa, he died July 1st 1977, kihin no retsu (Akihide), First Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀 展覧会, 1941) (Sesko)

Following is a write up on Fujiwara Kanefusa from Rich Stein’s, Japanese Sword Guide: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanefusa.htm

The Kanefusa lineage of swordsmiths of Mino Province dates back to the Muromachi era in the 1400’s. The 23rd generation Kanefusa worked during the WW II era and was a direct descendant of this famous line of swordsmiths. This lineage continues today with the 25th generation Kanefusa. The 23rd generation Kanefusa’s name was Kato Koichi. He was born in 1900. During the Showa period he studied under Kato Jumyo and worked in Seki (Mino / modern Gifu prefecture). During the war years he made many blades for the military, both army and navy, and for civil officials. He won numerous awards in sword exhibitions and contests during this period. He was ranked 1st Seat (National Swordsmith) in the 6th Exhibition of Swords held in 1941 (Slough). He was ranked Kibin no Retsu in 1942 by Kurihara Hikosaburo at the Tosho Banzuke (J.Kim). Many of his blades are signed as being prize winning blades. Blades by the 23rd generation Kanefusa have received origami from the NBTHK or NTHK. This school of swordsmiths is noted for making a special style of hamon known as “Kanefusa midare”.

There are several blades known made by Noshu Seki 23rd Generation Kanefusa which have the kiku-sui crest carved as a horimono on the blade (not on the nakago). These blades were not made at the Minatogawa Jinja Tanrensho and have no known connection with it. These swords probably were a special order from a group of naval officers or a naval officer’s club associated with the Minatogawa battleship. This same style Minatogawa crest is occasionally found on blades by Asano Kanesane. These are also thought to be special order blades and not associated with the Minatogawa Jinja.

Some blades bear inscriptions about awards or being prize winning blades. Sho or Seki tang stamps may appear on the nakago. Some of his blades were signed nakirishi mei. He forged both traditionally made gendaito and non-traditionally made showato using mill steel, thus each blade must be judged on its own merits. Kanefusa blades are found mounted in shin-gunto (army) or kai-gunto (navy) koshirae and shirasaya.

The sword is in very good condition and excellent polish. There is one small chip which the polisher left to preserve as much of the sword as possible. It comes in a beautiful hinoki shirasaya.  There is a sayagaki, but I am not sure who it is by.

Price:  $3000 plus S/H

If you are interested in owning this sword, contact me via the website or directly at yakiba.com@gmail.com